Musings and Snippets from a recently retired JP. I served for 31 years, mostly in west London. I was Chairman of my Bench for some years, and a member of the National Bench Chairmen's Forum All cases are based on real ones, but anonymised and composited. All opinions are those of one or more individuals. JPs swear to enforce the law of the land, whether or not they approve of it. Nothing on here constitutes legal advice.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Maybe Its Because I'm A Londoner

We were reading a ROTI (interview transcript) the other day when my colleague turned to me with furrowed brow and said "What's this - he said it was worth a nifty. A nifty what?"

Sorry, this Yank is still bewildered and Google isn't helping: most of the early hits for "nifty fifty" refer to a 50mm photographic lens. A fifty what? Pound note? I didn't think the currency was that debased.

I don't think a good drink has a specific value either, it certainly varies depending who it is (given the quantity and infrequency of my drinking, 20 quid would be more than enough in my case but for Ian Duncan Smith perhaps it'd be nearer to 100?)

In the States, at a typical pub (i.e. "bar"), the term "well" is used to describe the bartender's routine stock of spirits. The low cost choices, if you will. The candidates for mixed cocktails and lady drinks.

To order a premium spirit, one would order by brand name, or (in the better places) distillery and age (speaking of single malts here, of course) or use the unfortunate accretion "top shelf".

Thus, "well good drink" and its polymorphism "good well drink" could be considered oxymorons, as could the patron who ordered same (sans "oxy").

I'll settle for a Sapphire (pink will do) or a Glen Farclas 12. I don't drink from "the well" in the States. Nor should you.

in the early 80's, as well as the 'nifty' fifty, we used to use 'naughty' forty and 'dirty' thirty too. a 'cockel' was a tenner and a 'ching' was a fiver. there wasn't much call for us to use 'monkey' in those days thanks to our age, unemployment and/or pre 'minimum wage' pay rates. all good fun really.

What The Papers Said

40 Bloggers That Really Count (Times)There are 30,000 or so unpaid magistrates across England and Wales. For five years, one of them has anonymously detailed the cut and thrust of the job, providing a grimly funny insight into Britain’s sinful underbelly with the same feel and tone as a Hogarth or Dickens.